Running Events in Duisburg 2027: Rhein-Ruhr-Marathon, Winterlaufserie and IRONMAN 70.3

The Winterlaufserie in the Sportpark from January, the Rhein-Ruhr-Marathon in May, the Firmenlauf through the city centre, the IRONMAN 70.3 at the Regattabahn in August and the PINK-5K in the Landschaftspark: all the key running events in Duisburg for 2027 – plus what's still coming before New Year's Eve 2026.

Chris Mühlnickel · 30 September 2026 · 9 min read

Running Events in Duisburg 2027: Rhein-Ruhr-Marathon, Winterlaufserie and IRONMAN 70.3

Duisburg runs in three places especially often. The Sportpark in Wedau, with the Regattabahn (regatta course) and the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena, is the start for the Rhein-Ruhr-Marathon, the Winterlaufserie, the Lichterlauf and the run course of the IRONMAN 70.3. In the north, the Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord becomes the backdrop for Halloween and a charity run in pink. And in the south, in Huckingen, the clubs run around the Anger and through the Biegerpark, and the half marathon that begins in Düsseldorf finishes at the Steinhof. On top of that come the left bank of the Rhine in Homberg, the zoo at the Kaiserberg and the city centre, through which the companies run once a year.

This overview shows which events are coming up and who they suit. Where the organizer has already confirmed the 2027 date, it's listed; otherwise we give the date of the last edition for orientation. As of 30 September 2026.

Which event suits you?

Your goal Events that fit
Your first race bib 5 km at the Angerlauf, 2.5 km at the Halloween Run, PINK-5K
Your first half marathon Half marathon at the Rhein-Ruhr-Marathon, Rhein City Run, HTV-Sparda-Rheinuferlauf
Your marathon Rhein-Ruhr-Marathon
Fit through the winter Winterlaufserie, Angerlauf, Biegerparklauf
Running in the evening Bunerts Lichterlauf, HTV-Sparda-Rheinuferlauf, Zoolauf, Halloween Run
With colleagues TARGOBANK Run, Zoolauf
For a good cause PINK-5K, Zoolauf
Something completely different Zoolauf, Halloween Run, Rhein City Run
Triathlon IRONMAN 70.3 Duisburg

Still in 2026: Rhine, Landschaftspark and Biegerpark

Three more events are coming up in Duisburg before the end of the year, and they could hardly be more different: a half marathon across city boundaries, an evening in costume and a club run in the south.

On 25 October 2026 the Rhein City Run starts. It's a point-to-point half marathon: the start is in Düsseldorf, from there it goes along the Rhine to Duisburg, and the finish is at the Steinhof in Duisburg-Huckingen. So if you live in Duisburg, you run home and have to get to the start first. There was already an edition in 2025, and according to the organizer all 6,000 places for 2026 are taken – the event is sold out (rhein-city-run.de). The organizer hasn't named a date for 2027 yet. Because the Rhein City Run begins in Düsseldorf, it's also in our overview of running events in Düsseldorf.

On Halloween evening, 31 October 2026, the Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord becomes a running course. At the Halloween Run Duisburg you go through the lit and decorated park, over 10 km, 5 km or 2.5 km, running or walking as you choose. According to the organizer, the Landschaftspark is the backdrop "once again", so the event has taken place before (halloween-run-duisburg.de). The 2.5 km are a relaxed way in if you're running with a race bib for the first time.

Much quieter is the Biegerparklauf on 14 November 2026. The Sportgemeinschaft Duisburg-Süd is organising it for the 36th time after a break of several years, as part of the revived Südcup. The distances are 10 km and 5 km on a partly asphalted loop through the Biegerpark; the start is at the Bezirkssportanlage Biegerhof in Huckingen, and the finish is on the cinder track of the stadium (sued-cup.de).

Winter: Angerlauf and Winterlaufserie

If you don't just want to train on your own in winter, Duisburg has two occasions that build on each other.

It kicks off on 9 January 2027 with the Angerlauf, also organised by the Sportgemeinschaft Duisburg-Süd and the opening race of the Südcup. The flat loop runs on paved paths and asphalt around the Anger in the south of Duisburg, you can choose between 10 km and 5 km, and the start is in Huckingen. The Angerlauf has a long tradition: on 10 January 2026 it took place for the 45th time after a six-year break, and the club has announced the 46th edition with a "save the date" (sued-cup.de). The 5 km on a flat course are a good first race.

Two weeks later the Winterlaufserie des ASV Duisburg (winter running series) begins, in 2027 for the 42nd time. It consists of three dates in the Sportpark Duisburg: 23 January, 13 February and 13 March 2027. The small series covers 5 km, 7.5 km and 10 km, the big series 10 km, 15 km and a half marathon. Only those who complete all three series days are ranked. The start is on the Margarethenstraße in front of the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena, and the finish is in the athletics stadium on the Kalkweg. For the 39th edition in 2024, the press review on the organizer's website gives 4,800 participants (asv-winterlaufserie.de). The big series with its half marathon is a training plan with a race bib – and the last series day in March is seven weeks before the Rhein-Ruhr-Marathon.

May: Rhein-Ruhr-Marathon

The most important date in Duisburg's running year is 2 May 2027. That's when the Rhein-Ruhr-Marathon, officially the schauinsland-reisen Rhein-Ruhr-Marathon, takes place for the 44th time. It's organised by the Stadtsportbund Duisburg (the city's sports federation) and the LC Duisburg. The start is in the Sportpark Wedau, and the finish is in the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena (rhein-ruhr-marathon.de).

Alongside the 42.195 km there's a half marathon and a half marathon relay, plus races for inline skaters and handbikers and the AOK-Schulmarathon (school marathon). If you want to start with friends or colleagues but don't want to run a whole half marathon yet, you share the distance in the relay.

The organizer hasn't published official participant or finisher numbers. In a post about the aid-station planning for 2026, it mentioned around 8,000 runners – a planning figure, not an official finisher count. The 43rd edition took place on 10 May 2026. Registration for 2027 has been open since 26 August 2026, and according to the organizer there were more than 1,000 entries after one week (rhein-ruhr-marathon.de). If you're training for the marathon, you do the long runs in February and March, and the Winterlaufserie gives you three fitness tests for them.

Summer: zoo and Rhine riverbank

In summer, Duisburg moves its running into the evening, in two places you wouldn't normally associate with races.

The Zoolauf Duisburg (zoo run) goes through the zoo at the Kaiserberg. It's advertised as a team relay on a loop of around 5 km, plus 5 km walking and Nordic walking. The proceeds go to the zoo's species conservation projects, and the run is organised by the Stadtsportbund Duisburg together with the zoo. The 17th edition was planned for 26 June 2026 and was postponed to 10 July 2026 because of the heat (zoolauf.de). There's no confirmed date for 2027 yet.

A good two weeks later it's over to the left bank of the Rhine. At the HTV-Sparda-Rheinuferlauf (Rhine riverbank run) of the Homberger Turnverein, you run in the evening along the Rhine riverbank in Duisburg-Homberg, over 21.1 km, 10 km or 5 km, plus 7.5 km walking. The start is at the Sportpark Friesenplatz. On 25 July 2026 the Rheinuferlauf took place for the 31st time, together with the 46th Internationaler Volkslauf. According to the organizer, the participant limit is 800, and the 2027 date hasn't been published yet (hombergertv.de). For a first half marathon, this is a manageable setting.

With your team: TARGOBANK Run

The TARGOBANK Run Duisburg is the city's Firmenlauf (corporate run). Company teams start together on a course of around 5 km through Duisburg's city centre, followed by an after-run party. On 26 August 2026 it took place for the 19th time, and according to Radio Duisburg all 6,000 places were already taken six weeks beforehand (radioduisburg.de). The organizer announces a repeat in 2027, but the date is still open (targobank-run.de). So if you want to start with colleagues, you should put a team together early in the year.

Triathlon: IRONMAN in the Sportpark

On 29 August 2027 the Sportpark Duisburg becomes triathlon territory. The IRONMAN 70.3 Duisburg is a middle distance: 1.9 km swimming on the Regattabahn, 90 km on a flat bike course over the Brücke der Solidarität (Bridge of Solidarity) and finally a half marathon in the Sportpark (ironman.com). In 2026 the race took place on 16 August, for the first time with the IRONKIDS the day before. According to Nordbote, around 2,500 triathletes were expected in 2026 (nordbote.de).

September: lights at the Regattabahn, pink in the Landschaftspark

In September, the running year returns to two familiar places.

At Bunerts Lichterlauf (run of lights), you run a lit loop around the Regattabahn in the Sportpark in the evening, over 10 km or 5 km; the 10 km start at 8 pm. The entry fees fund the running of the lighting system at the Regattabahn. The run is organised by the Stadtsportbund Duisburg with Laufsport Bunert. On 12 September 2026 it took place for the 24th time, and the 2027 date hasn't been published yet (lichterlauf.bunert.de).

The second September date belongs to the Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord: that's where the PINK-5K takes place. You run or walk 5 km, and the donations go to Brustkrebs Deutschland e.V., a breast cancer charity. In 2026 the tour skips Duisburg; in 2025 it was here on 21 September. On 19 September 2027 the PINK-5K returns to the Landschaftspark (pink-5k.de). With no time pressure and a good cause, this is a friendly setting for your first event.

Planning tips for your running year

The big events fill up early. At the TARGOBANK Run, all 6,000 places were taken six weeks before the date in 2026, and the Rhein City Run is sold out for 2026 with 6,000 places. At the HTV-Sparda-Rheinuferlauf the limit is 800. Registration for the 2027 Rhein-Ruhr-Marathon is already running (reg.mikatiming.com).

Costs are with the organizer. Most organizers haven't published the 2027 entry fees yet. What's certain: at the Zoolauf the proceeds go to species conservation, at the PINK-5K the donations go to Brustkrebs Deutschland e.V., and at the Lichterlauf the entry fees fund the lighting at the Regattabahn.

Series give the winter a structure. At the Winterlaufserie, only those who start on all three dates count. The Angerlauf and the Biegerparklauf are part of the Südcup of the Sportgemeinschaft Duisburg-Süd.

Few organizers, many events. The Stadtsportbund Duisburg is involved in the Rhein-Ruhr-Marathon, the Zoolauf and the Lichterlauf. Bunert Events is behind the Rhein City Run and the TARGOBANK Run, and GID-Projects GmbH & Co. KG is behind the Halloween Run and the PINK-5K.

Four places shape Duisburg's running year. The Sportpark Wedau with the Regattabahn and the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena is the venue for the Rhein-Ruhr-Marathon, the Winterlaufserie, the Lichterlauf and the IRONMAN 70.3. The Halloween Run and the PINK-5K take place in the Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord. The Angerlauf and the Biegerparklauf are in Huckingen in the south, where the Rhein City Run finishes at the Steinhof. And the Rheinuferlauf is on the Rhine in Homberg.

Don't train alone

Duisburg's year has one clear goal: the Rhein-Ruhr-Marathon in May, for which the Winterlaufserie from January to March provides the fitness tests. The long runs through the winter are easier in a group, and at the start it's nicer when you know someone. You'll find the right group among the running groups and run clubs in Duisburg.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

When is the 2027 Rhein-Ruhr-Marathon?
On 2 May 2027, for the 44th time. The start is in the Sportpark Wedau, and the finish is in the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena. Alongside the marathon there's a half marathon, a half marathon relay, inline and handbike races and the AOK-Schulmarathon. Registration has been open since 26 August 2026 (rhein-ruhr-marathon.de).
When is the 2027 Winterlaufserie Duisburg?
The 42nd Winterlaufserie of the ASV Duisburg has three dates: 23 January, 13 February and 13 March 2027 in the Sportpark Duisburg. The small series covers 5, 7.5 and 10 km, the big one 10, 15 and 21.1 km. Only those who complete all three series days are ranked (asv-winterlaufserie.de).
When is the 2027 IRONMAN 70.3 Duisburg?
On 29 August 2027. The swim is 1.9 km on the Regattabahn, followed by 90 km on the bike over the Brücke der Solidarität and a half marathon in the Sportpark Duisburg. In 2026 the race took place on 16 August (ironman.com).
When is the 2027 TARGOBANK Run Duisburg?
The organizer announces a repeat in 2027, but the date is still open. In 2026 the Firmenlauf took place on 26 August for the 19th time, over around 5 km through the city centre, and all 6,000 places were taken six weeks beforehand (targobank-run.de, radioduisburg.de).
Where does the Rhein City Run start?
In Düsseldorf. The half marathon is a point-to-point course along the Rhine to Duisburg, with the finish at the Steinhof in Duisburg-Huckingen. In 2026 the date is 25 October, and all 6,000 places are taken (rhein-city-run.de).
Which running events are still coming up in Duisburg in 2026?
The Rhein City Run from Düsseldorf to Duisburg-Huckingen on 25 October, the Halloween Run in the Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord on 31 October and the Biegerparklauf in Huckingen on 14 November 2026 (rhein-city-run.de, halloween-run-duisburg.de, sued-cup.de).

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